The 1,100-slip Santa Barbara Harbor offers a variety of sea adventures — and world-class views — along Harbor Way and the Breakwater. 
These surfboards, part of an exhibit at the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum , depict the world-famous Malibu Pier, at top, and the Rincon. 
The Harbor Breakwater provides a scenic walkway for locals and tourists alike. 
There are several kayak rental options at the harbor, and kayaking is a healthy way to explore the area and see the boats up close. 
Sea Landing rentals include kayaks and jet skis. 
Information on the harbor is posted along Harbor Way, here with commercial fishing history. 
A sailboat returns to the harbor.
[Noozhawk’s note: This is the latest in a series of articles on the myriad of recreational activities along the Santa Barbara waterfront. Click here for the complete series index.]
The Santa Barbara Harbor is a busy place, bustling with tourists, commercial fishermen, the Harbor Patrol and U.S. Coast Guard, pleasure boaters, seafood-lovers, museum-goers and many more.
It’s also a hub of recreational options involving just about anything you can do on or under ocean water.
Here you can rent kayaks, jet skis and sailboats; learn to sail; get scuba-certified; explore the Channel Islands; spearfish; and take a variety of cruises or go on fishing excursions.
The history of another popular ocean activity is on colorful display at the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, which looks over the marina at 113 Harbor Way.
Called “Heritage, Craft & Evolution: Surfboard Design 1885-1959,” the exhibit combines historic photographs and historic surfboard replicas shaped by Renny Yater, painted by Kevin Ancell and John Comer, with historic photographs of early years of the sport.
Yater Surfboards opened in Santa Barbara in 1958, and famed shaper Yater still does business with his son, Lauran, in the Beach House at 10 State St.
The exhibition runs through Oct. 30, and is free with museum admission.
“The museum has a permanent surfboard exhibit featuring signed boards shaped by Renny Yater and used by some of the area’s celebrated champions,” said Rita Serotkin, the museum’s marketing and social media coordinator. “But what makes this exhibit unique is the way it relates the history of surfing by telling the story through foam reproductions of historic boards shaped by Renny, then painted and decorated to look like the original wooden boards by Kevin Ancell and Pierre St. Pierre.
“To complete the story, noted artist and surfer John Comer painted scenes of the surfing spots where each board was used.”
The historical exhibit begins the story in 1885, when the three Kawānanakoa brothers, heirs to the Hawaiian royal throne, introduced surfing in Santa Cruz.
A 31-page book, Heritage, Craft & Evolution: Surfboard Design 1885-1959, including pictures of the entire exhibit, is a takeaway offered in the museum’s store for $28.
Harbor businesses involved in getting people on or under the water include Blue Water Hunter Dive Shop and Paddle Sports Center, off of Harbor Way on the harbor’s west side, Santa Barbara Sailing Center on the docks, and Sea Landing on the harbor’s east side.
Sea Landing is a collection of six businesses that share an office staff. Its docks include the two boats of Stardust Sportfishing for daily fishing trips, the Condor Express for whale watching, and boats for Channel Islands Expeditions, including scuba diving and kayaking in sea caves.
James Tennant, a partner in Sea Landing Dive Center, said business has been brisk for fishing.
“Actually we had a really good year last year,” he said. “There was little for people to do outdoors. Fishing was one of those activities. We’ve been running with full boats almost every single day. Business is good, fishing’s good.”
Face masks are currently required on the fishing boats, according to the Stardust Sportfishing website, linked from the Sea Landing site.
A scuba course to get PADI-certified (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) currently costs $895, Tennant said.
“After completing the course with us, they’re certified to dive anywhere in the world for the rest of their life,” he said.
Santa Barbara Sailing Center offers introductory sailing lessons as well as a series of American Sailing Association courses that lead to a certification. The business also has a variety of rentals, including sail boats, and offers ocean cruises on the Double Dolphin.
“Four cruises a day,” Santa Barbara Sailing Center employee Sheldon Chu said. “Most of it’s been sold out, especially on weekends.”
The 1,100 boat slips at the harbor include modest vessels to well-appointed cruisers and elite racing yachts such as Warrior and Taxi Dancer.
The Santa Barbara Sailing Club and the Santa Barbara Yacht Club host regattas, including, for the latter, the Wet Wednesday series from early April to the end of September.
And all those masts pointing skyward provide a nice foreground for the view of Santa Barbara’s foothills and the Santa Ynez Mountains from the long breakwater that helps both locals and tourists get in their daily steps.
— Noozhawk correspondent Dennis Moran can be reached at sports@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk Sports on Twitter: @NoozhawkSports. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.